Some 19th Century Red Earthenware Artifacts Recovered in the Middlebury, Vermont Area

Another subject that will be discussed in a chapter about Vermont red earthenware in my forthcoming New Hampshire book, titled, An Influential Family of Early Potters: The Clarks of New Hampshire and Related Businesses is the red earthenware made by the Farrar family in East Middlebury, Vermont, seeing that the family originally migrated from Southern New Hampshire, and may have trained there as well. 

Red earthenware production began in the East Middlebury area about 1812 when Caleb Farrar (1780-1859) settled in Middlebury. He was born in Ipswich, New Hampshire and was 32 years old when he established the Middlebury business, which he and his son, Edwin William Farrar (1808-1845) ran for so many years.

For reference, Ipswich is located about 15-20 miles south of Lyndeborough and Francistown, New Hampshire, which is where Captain Peter Clark (1743-1826) and his family ran red earthenware potteries from the late 1770s well into the 1800s. Furthermore, Caleb Farrar was still living in Ipswich when he married his wife Sarah Parker Farrar (1783-1863) on March 25, 1804, whereas the Farrars were living in East Middlebury by 1806 since that is where their first child Eveline Farrar (1806-1872) was born.

Nonetheless, some of Edwin William Farrar's best production from about circa 1830 is found in various art museum's today, including Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Bennington Museum in Vermont, the Hood Museum at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and the Vermont Historical Society.

Interestingly, these three artifacts were all recovered in Middlebury, Vermont; the top row shows the remains of a jug; the middle row is a cuspidor or a spittoon; and the bottom row is what I suspect is the base to a two-piece flowerpot or urn.

19th C. Red Earthenware Artifacts Recovered in the Middlebury, VT Area

19th Century Red Earthenware Made by the Farrar Family in Vermont

All Recovered in the Middlebury Area

Top Row: This is the Remains of a Jug

Middle Row: This is a Cuspidor or a Spittoon

Bottom Row: I Suspect This is a Base to a Two-Piece Flowerpot or Urn

Photos Courtesy: Private Collection

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...